Ship s rudder



T OFFICE.

JOHN S. ROBBINS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SHIP S RUIDIDER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,601, dated September 25, 1855.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN S. ROBBINS, of the city of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Rudders for Ships and other Vessels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a side view of my invention, and Fig. 2, a sectional plan of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in bot-h figures.

This invention consists in a certain method of applying and combining two rudders to act simultaneously whereby the pressure-caused by the resistance of the water as the vessel passes through it-upon one rudder, while the vessel is in motion, is balanced by the pressure upon the other, thus the steersman is enabled to hold the helm in any position without difliculty. The invention also tends to diminish the leeway of the vessel and brings the vessel around within a less distance.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, is a rudder hung from the stern post B, of a vessel in a similar manner to the rudder commonly employed but having little more than half the area. This rudder may be operated by a tiller, or steering wheel of the common kind, or any steering apparatus applicable to the common rudder. C, is another rudder not quite so wide as the rudder A, hung on an upright post or shaft a, the lower end of which is supported by the keel E, of the vessel which is extended beyond the stern post for the purpose, and the upper end by a stay F, standing out from the stern of the vessel, or the upper end might be framed into or secured to the upper part of the stern of the vessel if the stern post B, stood far enough under. The rudder C, is hung to swing between the shaft a, and the rudder A, with just room to clear the rudder A. The rudder A, has rigidly connected with it two strong iron arms b, Z), one standing out on each side. These arms are suitably stayed to give them great stability. The rudder C, carries two arms 7J', b', similar to b, Y), and these arms b, b', are connected by two connecting rods c, c, of equal length to the arms Y), b. The points of connection of the rods to the arms b, b, and b, Z2', must all be equidistant from the centers of motion of their respective rudders and lines drawn from the several points of connection through the centers of motion must all form corresponding angles with the sides of the respective rudders, by which arrangement the connecting rods are caused to be at all times parallel with each other and with the rudders, the rudders being also parallel with each other when not amid-ships, and in line with each other when amidships. As the rudders depart from the midship position one swings to one side and the other to the other side, but as both are parallel they both tend to give the vessel the same direction, and both being of equal area the resistance which they meet with as the vessel passes through the water is equal. This resistance acts upon one to force it into a midship position and on the other to force it farther' from such a position, but as their connection does not allow either to approach or depart from the midship position without the other, the effect of the resistance is to hold them permanently in any position they may occupy the same as if they were locked. This relieves the helmsman not only while the helm is kept stationary but in moving it as it is mainly the resistance caused by the motion of the vessel which makes, it require so much power to move it.

I have described the rudders A, and C, as being of slightly unequal size A, being a litt-le the widest, this is necessary to a perfect balance as the water coming off the stern=of the vessel will not act quite so effectively on A, as it would upon C, which is fully exposed.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Arranging the two rudders and combinf ing them by means of arms Z1, b, and b, b', and connecting rods o, c, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

JOI-IN S. ROBBINS. Witnesses:

THo. C. I-IAMBLY, W. K. OsBoRN. 

